Cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch

Abstract

A cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch, including: an axis of rotation; a carrier ring; a hub; a wedge plate including at least a portion radially disposed between the carrier ring and the hub; and a wedge element displaceable, for first and second locked modes in which the hub and the carrier ring are non-rotatably connected, in a first axial direction to contact the wedge plate and expand the wedge plate radially outwardly, and displaceable, for a free-wheel mode in which the hub and the carrier ring are rotatable with respect to each other, in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction. For the first locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in a first circumferential direction. For the second locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch, comprising:
 an axis of rotation; 
 a carrier ring; 
 a hub; 
 a wedge plate including at least a portion radially disposed between the carrier ring and the hub; and, 
 a wedge element:
 displaceable, for first and second locked modes in which the hub and the carrier ring are non-rotatably connected, in a first axial direction to contact the wedge plate and expand the wedge plate radially outwardly; and, 
 displaceable, for a free-wheel mode in which the hub and the carrier ring are rotatable with respect to each other, in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, wherein: 
 
 for the first locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in a first circumferential direction; and, 
 for the second locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 1 , wherein:
 for a first operating mode, the hub is arranged to:
 receive, for the first and second locked modes, first and second torque in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively; and, 
 transmit the first and second torque to the carrier ring; and, 
 
 for a second operating mode, the carrier ring is arranged to:
 receive, for the first and second locked modes, third and fourth torque in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively; and, 
 transmit the third and fourth torque to the hub. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the hub includes a radially outer surface with a plurality of first ramp pairs; 
 each first ramp pair includes:
 a first ramp surface sloping radially inwardly in the first circumferential direction; and, 
 a second ramp surface connected to the first ramp surface and sloping radially inwardly from the first ramp surface in the second circumferential direction; 
 
 the wedge plate includes a radially inner surface with a plurality of second ramp pairs in contact with the plurality of first ramp pairs; and, 
 each second ramp pair includes:
 a third ramp surface sloping radially inwardly in the first circumferential direction; and, 
 a fourth ramp surface connected to the third ramp surface and sloping radially inwardly from the third ramp surface in the second circumferential direction. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 3 , wherein for the first and second locked modes, the first ramp surfaces or the second ramp surfaces are arranged to displace the wedge plate radially outwardly to non-rotatably connect the hub, the wedge plate and the carrier ring. 
     
     
       5. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 3 , wherein:
 for the first operating mode:
 in the first locked mode, the first ramp surfaces are arranged to compressively engage the third ramp surfaces; and, 
 in the second locked mode, the second ramp surfaces are arranged to compressively engage the fourth ramp surfaces; and, 
 
 for the second operating mode:
 in the first locked mode, the fourth ramp surfaces are arranged to compressively engage the second ramp surfaces; and, 
 in the second locked mode, the third ramp surfaces are arranged to compressively engage the first ramp surfaces. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wedge plate includes:
 a first circumferential end; 
 a second circumferential end facing the first circumferential end in the first circumferential direction; and, 
 a gap between the first and second circumferential ends; and, 
 
 the wedge plate is discontinuous at the gap. 
 
     
     
       7. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 6 , wherein the wedge plate is continuous, in the first circumferential direction, from the first circumferential end to the second circumferential end. 
     
     
       8. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 6 , wherein to transition from the free-wheel mode to the first and second locked modes, the wedge element is displaceable, in the first axial direction, into the gap. 
     
     
       9. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 6 , wherein for the first and second locked modes, the wedge element is in contact with the first and second circumferential ends. 
     
     
       10. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the wedge element includes first and second surfaces sloping toward each other in the first axial direction; and, 
 in the first and second locked modes, the first and second surfaces are in contact with the first and second circumferential ends, respectively. 
 
     
     
       11. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the wedge element includes an axial end facing in the first axial direction; and, 
 in the first and second locked modes, the axial end is located in the gap. 
 
     
     
       12. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carrier ring includes a radial inner surface including a plurality of circumferentially extending grooves; 
 respective grooves are separated from each other in the first axial direction; 
 the wedge plate includes a radial outer surface with a plurality of protrusions; 
 at least a portion of each protrusion is located in a respective circumferentially extending groove; 
 in the free-wheel mode, the wedge plate is rotatable with respect to the carrier ring; and, 
 to initiate the first and second locked modes from the free-wheel mode, the wedge element is arranged to displace the radial outer surface radially outwardly to frictionally contact the plurality of protrusions with the carrier ring. 
 
     
     
       13. A cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch, comprising:
 an axis of rotation; 
 a carrier ring; 
 a hub including a radial outer surface with first and second ramp surfaces; 
 a wedge plate including at least a portion radially disposed between the carrier ring and the hub and including a radial inner surface with third and fourth ramps surfaces; and, 
 a wedge element:
 displaceable, in a first axial direction, for first and second locked modes in which the hub, the wedge plate, and the carrier ring are non-rotatably connected, to expand the wedge plate radially outwardly; and, 
 displaceable in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, for a free-wheel mode in which the hub and the carrier ring are rotatable with respect to each other, wherein: 
 
 for the first locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in the first circumferential direction; and, 
 for the second locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction. 
 
     
     
       14. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 13 , wherein for the first and second locked modes, the first ramp surface or the second ramp surface is arranged to displace the wedge plate radially outwardly to non-rotatably connect the hub, the wedge plate and the carrier ring. 
     
     
       15. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 13 , wherein:
 for a first operating mode, the hub is arranged to:
 receive, for the first and second locked modes, first and second torque in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively; and, 
 transmit the first and second torque to the carrier ring; and, 
 
 for a second operating mode, the carrier ring is arranged to:
 receive, for the first and second locked modes, first and second torque in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively; and, 
 transmit the first and second torque to the hub. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 15 , wherein:
 for the first operating mode:
 in the first locked mode, the first ramp surface is arranged to compressively engage the third ramp surface; and, 
 in the second locked mode, the second ramp surface is arranged to compressively engage the fourth ramp surface; and, 
 
 for the second operating mode:
 in the first locked mode, the fourth ramp surface is arranged to compressively engage the second ramp surface; and, 
 in the second locked mode, the third ramp surface is arranged to compressively engage the first ramp surface. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the wedge plate includes first and second axial ends; and, 
 the third and fourth ramp surfaces:
 slope radially inwardly in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively; 
 include first and second circumferential dimensions, respectively; and, 
 each include a first dimension, from the first axial end to the second axial end, greater than either of the first or second circumferential dimensions. 
 
 
     
     
       18. A cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch, comprising:
 an axis of rotation; 
 a carrier ring; 
 a hub; 
 a wedge plate including at least a portion radially disposed between the carrier ring and the hub and including:
 a first circumferential end; 
 a second circumferential end facing the first circumferential end in a first circumferential direction; and, 
 a gap, in the first circumferential direction, between the first and second circumferential ends; and, 
 
 a wedge element, displaceable in a first axial direction:
 to engage the first and second circumferential ends; and, 
 to expand the wedge plate radially outwardly for first and second locked modes in which the hub, the wedge plate and the carrier ring are non-rotatably connected, wherein: 
 
 for a first locked mode, the hub and carrier ring rotate in the first circumferential direction; and, 
 for a second locked mode, the hub and carrier ring rotate in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction. 
 
     
     
       19. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 18 , wherein:
 for a first operating mode, the hub is arranged to:
 receive, for the first and second locked modes, first and second torque in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively; and, 
 transmit the first and second torque to the carrier ring; and, 
 
 for a second operating mode, the carrier ring is arranged to:
 receive, for the first and second locked modes, third and fourth torque in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively; and, 
 transmit the third and fourth torque to the hub. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch of  claim 18 , wherein:
 for a free-wheel mode, the hub and carrier ring are rotatable with respect to each other; 
 to transition from the first or second locked mode to the free-wheel mode, the wedge element is displaceable in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction; and, 
 in the free wheel mode:
 the wedge element is in contact with the first and second circumferential ends; or, 
 the wedge element is free of contact with the first and second circumferential ends.